Rowing at Coleraine Over the Years Alan Anderson

COBRAColeraine Alumni Rowing Association I s s u e 10— 2017 Rowing at Coleraine Over The Years Alan Anderson Okay, to avoid confusion, I’m not THAT (unsuccessful) Irish Championship years ago (it still hurts to count the Alan – the Olympian. I’m a generation attempts, and winning a round at Henley. years!). As I thought about it, there earlier (’74-’81). Given that I spent the Then age and injury sentenced me to 21 seemed to be four types of changes – the first four years coxing, nature didn’t have years as Treasurer (and coach, boat flippant observations; the more pertinent the Olympics in mind for me. Though I repairer, builder, .....) at Lagan Scullers, changes to the club; what actually hasn’t managed to grow enough to have to start before finally returning to the homeland changed; and then what maybe should rowing in my 6th form and really got into to help Jeremy’s coaching team on change in the future ..... serious heavy training while at Saturday mornings. Firstly, the passing observations. I won’t Southampton University for four years. But enough about me. I was asked to even mention the obvious proliferation of Returning to Belfast Rowing Club, I can write this article about the differences mobile phones, but will start with cars – only claim my highlights to be a few that I’ve noticed in the club since I left, 35 there doesn’t seem to be a single child 1979/80 crew Alan Anderson, Willie Fleming, John Dean, Peter Huey, Stephen Peden, Steven Yeoh, Ronald Walker, Ian Murphy, Alan Wilson (cox) who walks or rides. I recall one guy in my whirr of so many rowing machines. It is an sports. Through the omnipresence of era who had to cycle miles to catch a bus impressive suite of equipment, even if it water bottles, even with the first year to school, then do his rowing training, instils fear and pain in every child as they venturing out between the bridges, who catch the bus then cycle a few more miles are measured to the tenth of a second of won’t even work up a sweat, suggests to home, every day. (Note to Jeremy: ban their performance. How relaxed it makes my cynical mind that in this modern cars except mine and make them jog the old “tank” feel. It was much less of a world, appearance and accessories are down the lane as a warm up). You don’t piece of torture, with its swooshing more important than effort .... or am I just even need to hold your nose as you pass puddles and not a measurement in sight. getting old? But on a Saturday I now the pig sty as it has been physically and Today there is no escaping the numbers regularly take crews down to the metaphorically replaced with a gas tank. on an ergo! Barmouth, and always double outings on a No wonder I got a funny look when I sent Saturday – in my day we never went Whilst talking equipment, I hardly need them on a warm up run to the pig sty! below the railway bridge, just up to the mention that the current fleet is Cutts and back, maybe twice. Winning is Then there’s the river, which I guess is impressive (though we could still do with always getting harder. much as it was, but it seems a much more some more). And a far cry from the all dangerous place to me now – maybe wooden fleet I learnt on. We still had two What hasn’t changed? Well, it is only with because I’m more aware of the dangers. huge clinker eights (Ballycairn and the wisdom of old age that you realise As a child you thrill in the excitement of Ballysally, if I remember right) that took what rowing, with all its trials and shooting the rapids of the Old Bridge – about 16 of us to lift. If you were good, tribulations, does for your character. But I today as a coach, I’m mentally preparing you progressed to the “shell” boats, still see that today in the confidence the rescue plan every time I see a maybe the “Restricted” ones that still had instilled in a beaming first year who whirlpool crab. Clothing - I really can’t a keel running along them. Only the best manages to do a loop from the steps in a remember wearing anything other than a got the racing shells. All polished with yellow training scull. Or the fear singlet, maybe with a T-shirt under it in Turtle Wax before every regatta. Oh yes – conquered after a capsize when the next the winter, and a pair of white double at regattas, coxes wore whites and blazer. outing ends with an accomplished smile. seated rowing shorts, if you were lucky. I can’t see that happening today. The cox who realises he is appreciated Today it is all lycra multi-layer thermals, when his crew bring him birthday gifts. As Of course introducing girls doubles the gilets and waterproofs. Hypothermia they say, all humanity is there, and demand for coaches and this is where I never did me any harm (except maybe rowing, like most sports, is a great way for see the biggest change since “my days”. stunt my growth?). Yet, even properly children to learn it. And winning, that is Back then, virtually each year had its own clothed, there is still a reluctance to help still good too! rowing master, most with years of rowing pull the launches out when it is a really experience. Today there are none (though And 8am in mid-winter is still as cold as 35 low tide and the trailers drop off the maybe the students prefer to escape from years ago! And the Bann still whips up into bottom of the ramp. teachers for their sport!). Thankfully, a storm at the slightest breeze. Nobody But what about the real changes? Well the Jeremy is in position now, which makes wants to wash the boat. The rain always obvious one is the introduction of girls mid-week games days almost possible, stops just as you are coming off the water. since the amalgamation. I can only see but Saturdays or events would be Some things never change! good in this. Quite apart from all the impossible without extra assistance. The future – what might change? As benefits shared with co-education, it Obviously the pressures on teaching today hinted earlier, the structure of the club is opens our wonderful sport to twice the are different from the 70’s, so we can’t much improved, and will hopefully go audience (I’m old enough to remember expect things to run the same. COBRA is from strength to strength, with a more clubs that have only relatively recently doing a sterling job in physical and stable basis. As COBRA matures, its allowed female members!). Does it allow financial support, as well as lobbying the membership can only increase. Hopefully girls to feel equal in a once male school, but I fear the structure and a stronger club will then result in a dominated sport (and world)? Without funding of the club isn’t yet as sound as it stronger COBRA, with female generalising too much, I think the girls in could be. representation as our alumni go out into the current generation are showing the Part and parcel of this is the unmistakable the wider rowing world and bring back boys up a bit, so I think yes, it does. Mind fact that the quality and quantity of their experiences (and finances) to help you, the clubhouse seems an awful lot rowing is so much higher than I remember the next generations. noisier on a Saturday morning than I in my years. Perhaps this is all part of remember it – which either means girls Alan Anderson evermore demanding progress in all chatter more ... or maybe it is just the 2 Corey McDowell For the 2016/17 season, I had decided to take a step back from full time rowing at Reading to focus more on university studies and give myself a break from the demands of combining training 12 times a week whilst studying for a degree. This meant I was no longer doing as much competitive racing but I was still training fairly regularly at the boat club to maintain fitness. The main highlight of the head season was forming a crew with two RUBC alumni members and a current PhD student to race at Reading University Head. It was great to be back in a boat racing again with some old training sessions done with the crew, difficult racing conditions. Despite this, friends, unfortunately we were not as fit and to shed a couple of pounds to get we went out aggressively at the start as we used to be as our result showed back to lightweight again! We arrived in and managed to maintain our rhythm we were quite a bit slower compared to Subotica in high spirits and we quickly throughout the race and we finished in two years ago! Still, a very enjoyable got accustomed to the course. However, 4th place, a very respectable result for day was had and it worked in well with in the race for lanes on Friday it was the crew given the circumstances. We the annual RUBC dinner later that clear that substituting into the boat at were quite lucky we did not end up evening. short notice was going to be sinking! Overall it was a fantastic trip challenging.

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